Collaborative communication platforms

• US 8,554,838 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2010
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BCS Software LLC (d/b/a Bluebonnet Consulting Services & Software)
• Original Assignee: Back Micro Solutions LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wang, Jinsheng, Wang, Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Kyung H
• Application Number:
  US12/790,929
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 715/758
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2521 Translation architectures other than single NAT servers

Abstract

A collaborative communication system is disclosed. The collaborative communication system integrates a number of electronic communication tools to meet the collaborative communication needs for an enterprise, family members or friends. The collaborative communication system allows a group of users to participate in communications including chatting and accessing files among the specified users. When a users uploads a file to a file store, each of the users gets notified of the availability of the file for accessing, wherein the file is not sent to any of client machines respectively used by the users, and is downloaded to a client machine when one of the specified users associated with the client machine accesses the file in the file store, thus avoiding to distribute copies of the file to each of the users regardless they need it or not.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a document, the method comprising:

forming a working group of a plurality of users invited from a directory to join the working group;

uploading a document to a file store from a client machine associated with one of the plurality of users,

wherein the uploaded document in the file store is accessible to the working group within a predetermined time frame, and

wherein the uploading the document comprises setting, by the client machine, the predetermined time frame for when the uploaded document is accessible;

automatically updating a user interface on a plurality of client machines associated with the plurality of users;

wherein the user interface includes a private domain including;

a first listing area of one or more documents accessible at the client machine; and

a second listing area of one or more documents accessible at another client machine, wherein to transport documents to be used elsewhere,

alerting the plurality of users of an availability of the uploaded document for accessing; and

retaining an archive of uploaded documents accessed by the plurality of users including access times of the uploaded documents, wherein the archive is accessible by a late-joining user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alerting each of the plurality of users further includes:

sending the instant message to the working group.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a user interface on each of the plurality of client machines, wherein the user interface includes;

a list of representations of users in the directory, and

a representation of the uploaded document.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user interface further includes a private domain including two listing areas, one of the two listing areas corresponding to a list of one or more documents to be accessed with a user of another client machine displaying a user interface, and another of the two listing areas for the user of the another client machine displaying the user interface to transport documents to be used elsewhere.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the representation of the uploaded document changes on the plurality of client machines when one of the plurality of users accesses the uploaded document.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the list of representations of users in the directory include a plurality of icons;

and the method further comprising;

displaying an image when one of the users in the directory is selected, wherein the image is an enlarged version of the icon associated with the selected user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the image allows recognition of the selected user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the archive is stored on a server and accessible by the users in the directory.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the uploaded document in the file store is deleted after expiration of the predetermined time frame.

10. A system for accessing a document, comprising:

a plurality of client machines, wherein a client machine is associated with a user of a working group of a plurality of users chosen from a directory and sets a predetermined time frame for when an uploaded document is accessible;

a user interface, displayed on the client machine, including a list of representations of users in the directory,

wherein the user interface is configured to

indicate an availability of an uploaded document for accessing,

receive an alerting message,

list one or more documents accessible at the client machine, and

list one or more documents accessible at another client machine,

wherein to transport documents to be used elsewhere,

and

a memory to store uploaded documents including access times of the uploaded documents, wherein the memory is accessible by a late-joined user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the uploaded document is accessible within a predetermined time frame,

wherein the predetermined time frame is predetermined either by a server or by the one of the plurality of users.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the alerting message further comprises the instant message sent to the working group.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the user interface includes a representation of the uploaded document.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the user interface further includes a private domain including two listing areas, one of the two listing areas corresponding to a list of one or more documents to be accessed with a user of another client machine displaying a user interface, and another of the two listing areas for the user of the another client machine displaying the user interface to transport documents to be used elsewhere.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the representation changes on the plurality of client machines when one of the plurality of users accesses the uploaded document.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the list of representations includes a plurality of icons;

and the method further comprising;

displaying an image when one of the users in the directory is selected, wherein the image is an enlarged version of the icon associated with the selected user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the image allows recognition of the selected user.